Signature Experiences

Erstwhile seat of the British empire, Kolkata is the fourth largest metropolitan city in India and undoubtedly it’s cultural capital. From glorious Howrah Bridge - one of the largest cantilever bridges in the world – over the Hooghly River to dazzling idols of Goddess Durga taking over the city in a colourful celebration every year, Kolkata’s sights are enduring national icons. Explore the city’s historical landmarks with the courteous guidance of our Concierge service. Start at the Victoria Memorial, a breathtaking confluence of Indo- Saracenic, Venetian, Egyptian, Islami and Deccani styles of architecture. Amongst the many displayed treasures are rare Indian art, manuscripts by William Shakespeare and the  Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam . Another must-see museum (Kolkata has over 30 of them, so you’ll never run out of options) is Indian Museum - the largest in the country - which has over 35 galleries. Far from the cultural hoi polloi, there are many more sides to vibrant, multicultural Kolkata. Bara Bazar, the largest wholesale market in the city exemplifies its diverse heritage, with the Armenian Church of Nazareth, the imposing Holy Rosary Cathedral and some synagogues looking upon the crowds of traders and street food sellers. Round off your tour at the magnificent Kalighat Temple, one of the shakti peethas devoted to the Goddess Shakti.

Kolkata’s craftsmen are legendary for their aesthetic vision and attention to detail, perfected over generations. Our Concierge service will help with drafting a shopping spree that will get you up and close with the best-kept artistic secrets of the city. The family-run Mondal & Sons in Lal Bazaar sells exquisite musical instruments like sitars and violins and count Yehudi Menuhin amongst their customers. A hole-in-the-wall on Meher Ali Road, Ankur Kala sells lovely batik and tie-dye handicrafts as well as beautiful leather and embroidered goods, handmade by underprivileged women. While you cannot purchase a life-size idol to take back home, a visit to Kumartulli - the potters’ quarter in northern Kolkata - is a must for excellent photo opportunities. The artists here are renowned for their skill in crafting clay idols of Hindu gods and goddesses, especially Kolkata’s beloved deity, Durga.

The wilfully winding Hooghly (Ganga) is the lifeline of Kolkata, and a day cruise is the ideal way to experience this magnificent river. Reach out to our Concierge service which will plan a memorable ride for you, preferable early in the morning. There are 54 ghats along the Hooghly where locals bathe, cast their nets for the catch of the day, perform rituals and wait in their boats to ferry guests. As you leave behind the iconic Princep Ghat, you’ll watch the city come to life on the shore across markets, memorials and monuments. Hop off midway to explore the sprawling campus of Belur Math, the hub of the spiritual Ramakrishna Movement and the place where Swami Vivekananda spent the last days of this brief, extraordinary life.

As the centre of India’s cultural renaissance and home to illustrious novelists and poets like Sunil Gangopadhyay, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and Shankha Ghosh, Kolkata is nothing if not crazy about the written word. You can spend an afternoon debating Booker Prize winners with the students of Presidency College at the legendary Indian Coffee House, and then stroll down the ‘boi-para’ (book alley) on College Street. Pay tribute at the Jorasanko Thakurbari (Tagore House) the 18 th century ancestral home of India’s first Nobel Laureate. Visit Academy of Fine Arts - the stronghold of Bangla theatre - on Cathedral Road and head to Rabindra Sadan for exhibits and dance performances. If you’re short of time, we have replicated the literary fervour of Kolkata’s streets in the plush environs of the hotel. Just grab your laptop or a book from the library settle down in the comfy sofas at the Writers’ Retreat on the lobby level. This cosy nook right next to Swirl, the patisserie and deli, is the contemporary version of the adda (hangout) that’s characteristic of Kolkata.